Dear Tom,
Here is my considered response to your myths re dabolim and Mopa!
I have replied before to this same story under the tag: 'jaytev' in the from
name; and now that u keep on repeating the same story, I am compelled to
give you a para by para response. I hope this willl make you wiser, and
stand up for Dabolim and not Mopa.
Dabolim: 'GREAT and Smaller' is the need of the hour! Not a graet white
elephant at mopa.
Subject: [Goanet] Re: Proposed Mopa Replacement Airport.
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 23:17:43 -0400
Tom de Souza from Hong Kong says:
Goa is moving forward as the central Government has proposed a new state of
the art airport at Mopa in Pernem.
The present Dabolim airport built around 1953 was just a simple airstrip
and
its main purpose due to the economic blocade with India and Portugal.
After
independence it was upgraded to enable large capacity flights to land in
Goa, but its status is nowhere near the international airports in other
parts of South East Asia including Singapore, Kuala-Lumpur, Hong Kong,
Manila, Taiwan and so forth.
Nasci says:
The status of Dabolim is nowhere near the size and capacity of Mumbai,
Delhi, Chennai, or Bangalore even. That does not mean, we abandon Dabolim!
in fact we can and should upgrade it the requirements as dictated by demand
primarily in Goa; but not to the standards and size of Singapore, KL,
Bangkok or Hong Kong! The simple reason is that Goa is not even a 'city' by
international standards, and even by Indian standards. More importantly, Goa
is not at the crossroads of avaiation routes within India and
internationally. So it's bloody stupid to demand or even think of having an
international airport in Goa, of the grandeur and type of the international
airports that you are talking of!! Goa is at most a collection of villages,
towns and semi urban areas, not yet properly connected with essential
infrastructure, like uninterrupted Electric Power Supply, water supply and
roads of any standard to be proud of. And we still have stray dogs and cows
and harrasing hawkers etc. on the roads and the beaches, who are a menace to
Goa residents and tourists alike.
Do you think that construction of a white elephant mega airport will get rid
of these nuisances? So then what are the priorities for the Govt. og Goa and
the Central Govt. for Goa??
Certainly these infrastructure upgrades to the best in the world; and
upgradation of the existing Dabolim airport to the demand and requirements
at present and in the near and even long term future is the answer to Goa's
problems! Not the building of a new airport, which will only create more
problems and unbearable strain on old and new resources and infrastructure.
Dabolim is and has been almost in the centre of Goa. while Mopa is at one
extreme end of North Goa. Study your 'geography first' and then 'logistics'
of transportation of residents and tourists from the extreme north end of
Goa to South Goa and to Canacona and Quepem, OK?? Then compare this study
with the existing logistics of Dabolim in central Goa serving 'All of Goa'
equally!!
Tom de Sousa says;
The terminal building in Hong Kong International airport is 1.27 kilometres
long, and has international airline counters from A to Z, over 200
immigration counters, 14 belt conveyors for luggage handling, 60 link
bridges for the planes to land at the airport, a 5 star airport hotel,
cargo
handling, crew hotel, and two runways 3.8 kilometres long.
International airlines also need maintenace and there are two large
maintenace hangers, and the best restaurants and shopping arcades are in
the
terminal building.
Nasci says:
There is enough land (plenty of it) to the south and behind the runway and
taxiing area, at Dabolim and then is also the land along the Dabolim Vasco
Road, partly occupied by Naval Quarters!
Then again, remember! Goa Airport at Dabolim has to be 'Great' and much
'Smaller' like other international airports and not neccessarily 'Big' like
the other gateways that you are talking of.
Tom says:
Judging from the above facts Mopa replacement airport can provide
employment
to a few thousand Goans during construction and when the airport comes into
service.
Nasci says:
99% of construction work in Goa is carried out by non Goans; and the civil
engineers in Goa are not of a desired quality; they are the bookworm type!
with no modern construction involvement or experience. The ignorant
'piedrel' is the 'field engineer'.
Tom says:
The ground transportation including trains, buses etc are
essential as passengers cannot be late for their flights. The boom for
tourism will be excellent for Goa.
Nasci says:
This ground transportation is already there! An urgent upgrade of these and
the Dabiloim airport is required, as a solution to present and future
congestion. Not an additional burden of Mopa, on the already scarse
resources! All of the upgrades etc. can be done for a fraction of the cost
and in much less time, at Dabolim. The Navy moving out to Sea Bird will be a
much needed boost! Mopa is a real waste of time and money! It will be
India's biggest white elephant, if it comes up at all. Moreover it will be
in the private sector who will then demand the complete closure of Dabolim
for civilian flights, in order to recoup their losses.
Nasci Caldeira
Melbourne
Down Under.
